Monday, March 9, 2009
What went wrong with Biff?
I think that Biff's breaking point occurred after he failed high school math and then decided to visit his father and discovered "The Woman." Willy had always been a hero in Biff's eyes; a popular salesman that was welcomed in every town and adored by his wife and sons at home. He joked around with the boys, he encouraged Biff in football, and joked about girls with him. Like Linda once says there was never a father more loved by his sons. However, Willy taught Biff and Happy to think the most of themselves in a way that made them rebellious rather than giving them high/healthy self-esteem. Willy also thought so highly of his sons that he could not realize their faults. When Bernard warned Willy that Biff was failing math, Willy said not to worry, no one would fail Biff with all those scholarships rather than encouraging his son to try harder and study more. When Linda said Biff was getting a reputation of being to rough with the girls, Willy laughed and said that's his son. Willy pumped himself and his sons so full of confidence that when Biff discovered Willy with the girl and realized Willy was a phony, everything he had believed before became a lie. Biff became lost, floating from job to job, not taking orders from anyone but himself but having no orders to set himself straight. Biff was floundering but Willy only saw this as spite towards himself because Biff was angry at him. Biff and Willy never talked about what happened and never came to terms with it, this was their destruction. In the end Biff finally realizes he's just a "dollar an hour" kinda guy and that he is ok with that but Willy still cannot accept the truth which eventually leads to his death.
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5 comments:
Anne what nice work! You always use great evidence to prove your point! Ur right, I think the problem began when he didn't graduate high school. =)
Anne,
This is such a great blog! I totally agree!
-- Nicole :)
Besides the lack of a word count for your blog I only have one point to add to your awe-inspiring blog entry. Biff's downfall and restlessness is commonly seen among many of today's former athletes. I mention this in my blog but one can only imagine how difficult it might be for one to return to being an "ordinary" person after having played in front of tons of screaming fans, set on a big stage for everyone to ooh and ahh over. Sons like Biff, the sports stars, are always the favorite children, given everything in life and always getting all the attention. So after the scholarships, the fame, and the glory are taken away from Biff, its hard for him to find a niche in life that he is satisfied with. This, I believe, is a major contributor to the vast array of his problems.
- Andrew
Good points madam
However, I do not agree that Willy is a phony or being uncharacteristic by being with "The Woman." He has encouraged his sons to be with women...like the examples that you gave.
I think your points are good, but they seem to point at the fact that it is in Willy's nature that he would do this.
Although it is definitely Biff's breaking point, and he is shocked by his father's actions...if he was smarter...maybe smart enough to pass math...he would have been able to realize that his father would do something like what he did.
I wish I was in your class to hear your discussions.
I especially agree that the "Rose-Colored Glasses" that each character wears when looking at the other characters characters character characters.
Good Work.
Anne,
I enjoyed your blog thoroughly! You backed up your points very well!...which made me completely agree...not that I didn't before. Good Job!!!
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